In the evening the children related the events of the day to their mother, and found her approbation a sufficient reward for all their self-denial.  The conduct of Rosa Lynmore was duly canvassed, too; and, while Mrs Maurice praised her generosity, she endeavoured to shew her children the difference between this one impulsive act, and the constant, self-denying effort which is the result of true benevolence.  ‘This little girl,’ she said, ’may make but a small sacrifice in parting with this money, not half so great as it would be to go and seek out the poor woman and administer to her necessities, but still we have no right to find fault with what is so well done, and I am sure, my children, that you do not desire it.’

‘No, mother,’ said Effie, ’I see now why you told me not to judge Mrs Wiston by appearances; if I had come away a little sooner, I should have thought this pretty Rosa Lynmore one of the most selfish little girls in the world.  But now I know she was only thoughtless.’

’Well, I hope, my child, you will always remember not to judge hastily, and without sufficient reason; yet to be utterly blind to the apparent faults of those around you, is neither safe nor wise.  It is not safe, because by being too credulous you may easily make yourself the object of imposition; and not wise, because, by such indiscriminate charity, you lose a useful lesson.’

‘I think, mother,’ said Harry, ’that I can see the lesson we can learn from Rosa Lynmore’s faults.’

‘I don’t see that she has any faults,’ said Effie, earnestly.  ’I am sure, Harry, you ought not to make so much of that one careless little word about the bonnet; it was an ugly bonnet, with so deep a front that I dare say Rosa didn’t see the poor woman’s pale face.’

‘You call it a careless word, Effie,’ said Mrs Maurice, ’you admit that this little girl was guilty of thoughtlessness, and surely you cannot consider that no fault—­but under certain circumstances this fault is more pardonable than under others.  Now you know nothing of these circumstances, and so could not, if you wished, be Rosa Lynmore’s judge.  But, taking everything as it appears, you may draw your lesson without assuming a province which does not belong to you.  Now, Harry, we will hear what you have to say.’

’It was not what Rosa said, that I meant, mother,—­I was thinking of what we might learn to-day from all her actions, and I am sure I didn’t want to blame her more than Effie did.’

‘I supposed not, my son.’

’But, mother, Harry had reason to blame her more, for he didn’t see how sorry she looked, and how her voice trembled when she said, “She is dead now.”—­meaning her mother, I shouldn’t think a little girl would ever do right, without a mother to teach her.’

’Such children deserve pity, my love, and I am glad you have a heart to pity them, but I suspect that all little girls have wicked thoughts and feelings that they must strive against, and whether they are blessed with parents, or have only a Heavenly Father to guide them, they will have need to watch and pray.  But Harry has not given his lesson yet.’